“I asked her, and she agreed,” Runt reiterated. “There was no coercion involved.”
“We’d better get the fruit and vegetables to our temporary store,” Leif said. “Who will stay with Fiona?”
“She won’t want to remain here,” Kirk said with certainty. “One of us needs to deliver the dog food, which would leave her alone.”
“I’ll do the delivery to Wapusk Kennels,” Leif said after a pause. “Why don’t you take Fiona to town with you? Set up shop and once we’ve run out of customers, we can take her on a tour of the town. I’ll join you as soon as I get the dog food delivered.”
“Deal.” Runt hesitated. “Why don’t you wake her, Kirk?”
Kirk beamed. A chance to kiss her. “Thanks.”
Leif flinched, his head drooping a fraction. “We need to talk about Fiona. As soon as Josef and Arve arrive back in Churchill. Somehow, we need to come to an understanding without any in fighting between us. Dissent in our ranks would please Ma.”
“I’ve been thinking about this,” Stig said. “We’re all intending to take turns driving to and from Gillam. We’re seldom in the same place. If Fiona is agreeable, we could share her. I mean if we’re in agreement that she’s the one our bears want.”
“What about children?” Leif asked. “I couldn’t… If she died because of one of us making her pregnant…”
Leif’s sorrow floated on the air, its sharp piquancy discernable to Kirk. Leif had fallen for a human woman—a local Inuit—ten years ago. She’d died in child birth, and his brother blamed himself for her death.
“Leif, the doctors said it was a breech birth, and it took too long to get her medical help. You could do nothing more to help her,” Stig said. “No one predicted the storm. It came out of nowhere. Everyone accepts it was a tragic accident—apart from you. Besides, you’re getting in front of yourself, worrying about stuff that might never happen. Fiona might decide she can’t accept our dual nature or having Ma as part of her kin. Jealousy might put a stop to our plans. A dozen things could happen. Right now, we need to take each day one at a time.”
“Big speech, little bro,” Kirk said. “He’s right though. I’m going to wake Fiona.”
He left his oldest and youngest brothers discussing the next run to Gillam and how to boost orders. Kirk hastened his steps, eager to see Fiona. As he neared the bed, her eyes popped open. She offered him a gentle smile.
“Have I slept for long? I only meant to catnap.” Then she noticed his shredded sleeve. She bolted upright, her blue eyes wide. “Are you hurt?”
“Ma got in a lucky blow,” Kirk said with a shrug.
“What kind of mother attacks their children?” she mumbled, her fingers busily checking the rip in his sleeve.
“It’s the polar bear way,” Kirk said. “She wasn’t trying to hurt us. She intended to make a point, but she didn’t expect us to stand up to her.”
Fiona stood. “Take off your jacket. I want to see.”
“We heal quickly,” he explained.
“I want to see,” she repeated in a firm voice.
“You want me to take off my clothes.”
She paused, her blue gaze flickering down his body and back up. A wave of charming color burst into her cheeks. “Enough about me. Don’t shifters need to take their clothes off before they shift?”
Kirk stripped off his jacket, glanced at his shirt and took that off too. He’d need to change before he drove into town anyway. “Polar bears always shift with their clothes. As far as I know, it has always been that way. The tundra can be a barren place. Not many hidey-holes for personal belongings. I like to think we keep our clothes for practical purposes.”
Fiona traced the angry scratches on his forearm with a fingertip. Kirk’s breath caught at her gentle touch. “There is no blood.”
“There was,” he said, dragging in her scent. Her skin and hair reeked of polar bear. She smelled like family. A sense of contentment filled him until he remembered Fiona intended to leave Churchill at the end of her vacation. “I came to tell you that Runt and I are taking the fruit and vegetables to town. We’re going to set up our temporary shop. Would you like to come with us?”
“Yes,” she said immediately.
“Leif is delivering the dog food, then he’ll drive into town too. If it’s okay with you, we’ll take you for a tour this afternoon.”
“Perfect. I want to take lots of photos. Will I see more polar bears?”
“Hopefully not in town,” Kirk said. “The only bears you’ll see in town are wild bears, and they can be dangerous. If you’re on your own, keep your wits about you and scan your surroundings. The locals don’t lock their doors or vehicles, so if you see a bear, seek shelter. Don’t try to run.”
Fiona nodded. “Is there a problem with humans and your people?”
